Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Today at Storytime

What a fun storytime today! Our group was lively and a delight to read to. These are the books we shared:
Duck Goes Potty by Michael Dahl (Board Book)

Duck is used to wearing diapers. But one day Mommy announces that it's time to use a potty chair. Uh oh! How is Duck going to learn how to use the potty? Will Duck be ready to be a Big Duck now?

Pig Takes a Bath by Michael Dahl (Board Book)
Pig is busy doing just what pigs enjoy - wallowing in the mud. But now that Pig's dirty, it's bath time! Pig tries to hide, but can't escape. Into the bath Pig goes, washing between his toes and getting squeaky clean. But where does little Pig head to right after the bath? Well, back to the mud, of course!

Dinosaur vs. the Potty by Bob Shea
It's Dinosaur vs. the potty - who will win? Dinosaur battles making lemonade, splashing in puddles, drinking THREE juice boxes at lunch, and all sorts of water-related activities. Each time, Dinosaur wins and declares he does not need to use the potty. But will the potty eventually call his name? Will he make it in time? Will Dinosaur win or will the potty?

Tubby by Leslie Patricelli (Board Book)
It's bathtub time for baby in this delightful board book from Leslie Patricelli. True to the toddler experience, this little one dashes diaper-free exclaiming "whee!" and turns bath time into fun-time by creating funny disguises with bubbles, pretends to swim, and splashes water everywhere!

Tuck Me In! by Dean Hacohen
Help tuck in the baby animals by turning the flaps (serving as blankets) with this charming bedtime story. This one is sure to be a hit at bedtime!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Brrr! Get cozy with a good book...

Heading out on my dinner break tonight I was greeted with windy, wet, and chilly weather. The local forecast calls for even chillier temperatures overnight and possible snow tomorrow. All of this blustery weather makes me want to stay indoors and cozy up with a good book. Here are a few of my favorite cold-weather themed books:

In the Snow by Peggy Collins
A little boy has fun playing in the snow with his father as they spot animal tracks, build a huge snowman, and fill the birdfeeder.

The Snow Day by Komako Sakai
A little rabbit enjoys having a day off from kindergarten and spending time with his mother during a snowstorm, but his father's flight home is cancelled until the snow stops falling.

Red Rubber Boot Day by Mary Lyn Ray
 A child describes all the things there are to do on a rainy day.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day. The classic children's snowy story! Check this one out on DVD, too.

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
Some children create a family out of snow. Includes labeled pictures of all the items they use, as well as information about how snow is formed.

The Umbrella by Jan Brett
Carlos goes into the cloud forest to look for animals, but he manages to miss seeing them even though they have an adventure with his umbrella.

Lucky Pennies and Hot Chocolate by Carol Diggory Shields
A grandfather and his grandson enjoy sharing knock-knock jokes, playing games, hot chocolate, watching movies, reading books, playing baseball and just spending time together.

Enjoy and stay warm!

Gratitude & Thankfulness

This month many families are giving thanks. What are you and your children thankful for this year? How do you give thanks in your family? How do you teach gratitude? What kind of traditions do you share? Zero To Three offers families tips on raising a thankful child here




The Thanksgiving Bowl by Virginia Kroll

Each member of a family writes an anonymous "I'm thankful for" note and places it in the Thanksgiving bowl, but after the family guesses who wrote each note, the bowl is accidentally left outside, where it rolls off on a year-long series of adventures.

Thank You for Me! by Marion Dane Bauer

Rhythmic text enumerates what various body parts can do, including hands to clap and a body to twirl, then expresses thanks for each of those parts--and for the whole.

The Secret of Saying Thanks by Douglas Wood

While learning the secret to a good life, a child says thank you for the natural world and for being loved, because a grateful heart is always happy.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Projects for Dad

Are you a handy father or know one looking for new projects? Two new books at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library might bring on some inspiration:

Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share by Ken Denmead
The ultimate DIY project guide for techie dads raising kids in their own geeky image, in the spirit of The Dangerous Book for Boys. Today's generation of dads grew up more tech-savvy than ever. Rather than joining the Little League team, many grew up playing computer games, Dungeons and Dragons, and watching Star Wars. Now with kids of their own, these digital-age dads are looking for fresh ways to share their love of science and technology, and help their kids develop a passion for learning and discovery. Enter supergeek, and father of two, Ken Denmead. An engineer and editor of the incredibly popular GeekDad blog on wired.com, Ken has created the ultimate, idea-packed guide guaranteed to help dads and kids alike enjoy the magic of playtime together and tap into the infinite possibility of their imagination. With illustrations throughout, this book offers projects for all ages to suit any timeframe or budget. With Denmead's expert guidance, you and your child can: Fly a night-time kite ablaze with lights or launch a video camera with balloons; Construct the "Best Slip n' Slide Ever," a guaranteed thrill ride; Build a working lamp with LEGO bricks and CDs; Create a customized comic strip or your own board game; Transform any room into a spaceship; Make geeky crafts like cyborg jack-o'-lanterns or Ethernet cuff links. Brimming with endlessly fun and futuristic tidbits on everything from gaming to gadgets, Geek Dad helps every tech-savvy father unleash his inner kid - and bond with the next generation of brainiacs. (Summary courtesy of Syndetics, Inc.)

Handy Dad: 25 Awesome Projects for Dads and Kids by Todd Davis
Skate ramps, zip lines, go-carts, and more! In this super-fun book, Todd Davis extreme sports athlete and host of HGTV's Over Your Head presents 25 awesome projects for dads to build with their kids. Busy dads can choose projects that range from simple to challenging and take anywhere from five minutes to a full weekend. Readers are given all the directions they need to grab materials that can be found around the house or at the local hardware store and get to work banging up a sweet BMX ramp or half-pipe, building a tree house or tire swing, or throwing together a slip-and-slide or tie-dye station for an afternoon of fun. With plenty of color photographs, easy-to-follow instructions, and detailed illustrations, Handy Dad is chock-full of creative and inexpensive ways to keep kids (and dads) entertained for hours. (Summary courtesy of Syndetics, Inc.)

Thursday, November 4, 2010

This Week at Storytime: Cookies!

Preschool storytime was filled with cookie-theme stories today. Here is what we shared:

The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson

This playful, rhyming picture book introduces us to a cow that loves cookies. The farmer feeds the horse hay, the chickens get chicken feed, the geese love cracked corn, the pig gets slop, the dog loves doggy treats, BUT...the cow loves cookies. Read this story and you'll find out what makes cookies so special for this cow.

Mr. Cookie Baker by Monica Wellington
Monica Wellington has a great talent for presenting realistic, informational picture books that are a big hit with toddlers and preschoolers. Follow Mr. Cookie Baker as he mixes, bakes, and then sells cookies. Includes a delicious recipe too! YUM!

Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar? by Bonnie Lass & Philemon Sturges
The cookie jar was once full of delicious chocolate chip cookies, but now it's empty! Who took the cookies? Was it squirrel? Raven? Raccoon? Snake? Turtle? Frog? Or perhaps it was the army of ants that carried the cookies away! Not to worry, though, there's still plenty for all! This is a great read-aloud. Based on the popular children's activity song.

We also shared a big book version of The Gingerbread Boy and a flannel board story of The Chocolate Chip Cookie Ghost Story.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Storytime Craft this week!

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
After storytime this week, Peik-Kuan Lim will be leading us in an autumn-inspired craft. Children will be invited to make a leaf collage in the Storytime Room, following regular storytime. Thanks Peik-Kuan!

From Baby to Big Kid: How Your Child Grows e-newsletter

Image courtesy of Zero to Three.org

ZERO TO THREE has a new e-newsletter for parents of young children. See details from their website below:

"Register to receive ZERO TO THREE's newest resource for parents—From Baby to Big Kid. This parent e-newsletter offers science-based information on how children learn and grow each month from birth to age 3. The monthly e-newsletters include:
  • Age-based information about child development
  • In-depth articles on common child-rearing issues and challenges
  • Parent-child play activities that promote bonding and learning
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Research on child development and what it means for parents"

Monday, November 1, 2010

Relatives as Parents Resources

A year ago, we celebrated grandparents in our Fall 2009 Early Literacy Newsletter and acknowledge that more and more grandparents are finding themselves in the unique position of raising their grandchildren, for a variety of reasons.

Fact sheets from the University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension Program featuring resources for grandparents are listed below. These are available in English and Spanish and can be reprinted as long as credit is given to the Cooperative Extension Program. (Information provided by Denise Rennekamp, from Brookdale Foundation Relatives as Parents Program).

More Information · Español · 4 pages · 2009
Moving your grandchild into your home can bring up many emotions for everyone in the family. This article touches on the many ways to make this transition as smooth and positive as possible. Give the children individual attention, and listen to their feelings. Encouraging the children to feel at home by putting up pictures and helping organize their rooms may also make the move easier for your grandchildren.

More Information · Español · 4 pages · 2009
Visits with your grandchild's parents can be stressful on everyone, but there are ways to make these visits more comfortable. Being flexible with schedules and handling problems away from the child are important in making parent visits successful. Helping children cope with their own stress is also important for their well-being.

More Information · Español · 5 pages · 2009
Especially when raising your grandchildren is challenging, taking the time to take good care of yourself helps you be better-equipped to care for others. This article provides some ways to take care of yourself, including taking time for yourself, making a to-do list, delegating tasks, making a plan, relaxing, and learning how to do two things at once. Joining or starting a grandparent support group can also you share the challenges of raising your grandchildren.

More Information · Español · 6 pages · 2009
Dealing with the death of a parent can be hard for grandparents as well as grandchildren. This article explains the basic grieving process, and what it looks like for children of different ages. The article also includes practical ideas to help the child memorialize the parent (e.g., putting pictures of the parent in the child's room, helping them explain their emotions, taking flowers to the cemetery).

More Information · Español · 6 pages · 2009
No grandparent likes to think about a grandchild being mistreated, but grandparents raising grandchildren need to know about abuse. This article outlines the four basic types of abuse (sexual, physical, emotional, and neglect) and the warning signs of each type. The article also includes information about how to help a child who is, or has been, abused.

More Information · Español · 6 pages · 2009
Many grandparents need financial resources in order to care for their grandchildren. This article outlines some of the qualifications for various financial services (such as TANF, Medicaid, PeachCare and food stamps), as well as the time limits for receiving certain benefits. The article also highlights other supports for grandparents raising grandchildren, including grandparent support groups and community-based activities for children.

More Information · Español · 5 pages · 2009
Raising grandchildren can bring up some challenging legal questions and concerns. Grandparents raising grandchildren need to be familiar with consent laws, the types of legal custody (legal guardianship, custody order, adoption, etc.), and the importance of having the right kind of lawyer to handle your particular situation.

More Information · Español · 5 pages · 2009
Caring for infants and toddlers can be challenging. The article focuses on early brain development and other basics of early development, such as how they form attachments, the importance of repeating concepts, ways to incorporate making choices into children's lives, and the ways that reading and singing help their development. The article also provides tips for making sure your home is safe for young children.

More Information · Español · 5 pages · 2009
Although there is a generation gap between teens and grandparents, there is no reason for you and your grandchild to drift apart as she gets older. Teens look to you as a role model for the ways they should behave. It's important to take time to discuss tough topics like sex, drugs, smoking, and drinking. This article lists tips to keep communication lines open at all times, and stresses the importance of grandparents being askable.

More Information · Español · 4 pages · 2009
Grandparents can help children get ready to start school by helping them practice skills such as following directions, sitting quietly for short periods of time, and dressing themselves. Activities such as reading aloud and cooking together can help build pre-reading and pre-math skills that will form a bridge between home and school.

More Information · Español · 6 pages · 2009
Helping your grandchildren develop skills such as self-confidence, good study habits, and the ability to make friends can make a big difference in their learning. This article gives tips on how to help children complete their homework successfully, organize long-term projects, build confidence in their talents and abilities, and learn how to handle mistakes calmly.

More Information · Español · 6 pages · 2009
Time spent together is some of the most valuable time you and your grandchild can share. This article helps grandparents choose fun activities for children of different ages, and stresses the importance of learning and fun when spending time together. You can do many fun activities at home with inexpensive household objects can be easy and cheap. Included in this article is a list of fun activity ideas for different ages, as well as basic recipes for several types of play dough and finger paint.

More Information · Español · 5 pages · 2009
Putting your grandchild in child care raises many questions, such as the types of care available and the questions to ask of potential caregivers. Learn why quality child care is important, how to choose a high-quality child care program, and how to make the transition to child care manageable for everyone.

More Information · Español · 5 pages · 2009
Disciplining grandchildren requires special thought and attention. Grandchildren need to know the rules as well as the consequences for not following them. The article gives guidelines for setting rules, as well as how to respond when children misbehave, how to identify age-appropriate rules/behavior, and how to teach and encourage appropriate behavior.